As a career firefighter and chief officer....

I have learned that occupational stress is an ongoing concern for anyone in the First Responder field, and learning how to minimize that stress as a routine part of your program is crucial.

Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries are brutal, not only for the injured but also to their family, friends, and co-workers. Everyone in that circle is impacted. That is what makes PTSI different from a broken leg. It can't be seen, but the ripple effect has a far reach.

I don't have all the answers. My recovery from my own PTS is still a work in progress. However, having a skilled therapist as part of your recovery team is very important. I can't stress that enough. Get one!

My mission now is to help people with Post-Traumatic Stress accelerate their own recovery efforts.

Images from my life